set phrase: 옛날 옛적에 … 살았어요 (storytelling style: 살았답니다)
once upon a time, long, long ago
Example
옛날 옛적에 깊은 산속에 호랑이 한 마리가 살았어요.
Once upon a time, a tiger lived deep in the mountains.
Word parts
옛날 'the old days' + 옛적 'olden times' + 에 'at': two near-synonyms stacked for storytelling rhythm.
Good to know
Pronounced [옌날 옏쩌게]: the final ㅅ becomes ㄴ before ㄴ, and ㅈ turns tense after it. Folktales often go on with 호랑이 담배 피우던 시절에 'back when tigers smoked'.
Related words